Pre-event favourites Spain romped to an eighth straight win at the 2011 FIM Trial des Nations held in Tolmezzo, Italy. The squad of Toni Bou – Repsol Montesa, Adam Raga – Gas Gas, Albert Cabestany – Sherco and Jeroni Fajardo – Ossa, all of which are currently ranked within the World’s top five Trial riders, proved far too strong against their rivals as they ran out easy winners on a day when heavy rain storms punctuated proceedings.
The Spanish 'dream team' win again
Again it was Great Britian who were the best of the rest, and whilst Michael Brown – Gas Gas, James Dabill – Beta, Jack Challoner – Beta and Dougie Lampkin – Gas Gas put up a brave fight in almost British like conditions they simply had no answer to the mighty Spanish quartet. Spain’s winning margin of seventy-nine marks after two laps of eighteen slippery sections confirmed the difference between the two teams on the day.
The Spanish Armada
Much to the delight of the damp, but ever passionate Italian crowd they saw their flag raised above the podium as the host nation finished in third spot for the second year running. Matteo Grattarola – Gas Gas, Francesco Iolitta – Beta, Fabio Lenzi – HM Future and Daniele Maurino – Beta worked as a solid unit to finish well clear of their long time rivals France, who could not improve on the fourth position they achieved at the same competition twelve months ago.
The French team consisting of Loris Gubian – Gas Gas, Alexandre Ferrer – Sherco, Benoit Dangnicourt – Beta and Tanguy Mottin – Montesa, struggled on the muddy going and never looked like challenging for a podium place right from the start. With their captain Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Montesa absent, Japan’s remaining trio of Tsuyoshi Ogawa – Beta, Akira Shibata – Honda and Yoshiaki Nomoto – Beta failed to hold off new recruits to the World Championship class Norway for fifth spot.
In the International Trophy Group it was Germany who finally triumphed, as they fought back brilliantly during the second lap to beat early and unexpected leaders Sweden. On a rain lashed course the Swedish team of Emil Gyllenhammar – Montesa, Jesper Johansson – Beta, Eddie Karlsson – Gas Gas and Martin Lagergren – Sherco looked on target to cause the upset of the day, but were unable to maintain their form during the closing stages.
Germany who have won this category on a record five previous occasions and who remain the dominant nation in this class, last won this trophy back in 2009. This time around the winning team included Carsten Stranghoner – Gas Gas, Jan Peters – Beta, Christian Kregeloh – Ossa and Mirco Kammel – Beta. Third behind Norway and the Czech Republic last year, the 2011 German squad eventually defeated Sweden by eighteen marks in what was a high scoring event due to the severe weather conditions.
Representing the Czech Republic: Pavel Balas – Gas Gas, Martin Kroustek – Beta, Martin Matejicek – Gas Gas and Jiri Svoboda – Beta had to settle for third place at this edition of the FIM Trial des Nations as they finished just five marks behind Sweden. The podium placed teams enjoyed a good advantage over the chasing pack, with Australia and Belgium taking fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Finland and the USA both ended on a total of one hundred and eighty-six marks apiece, with the Scandinavian nation finally winning the tie break for sixth place. Austria who was first out on the course and missed much of the early rain took eighth spot just ahead of Ireland and Poland who respectively completed the top ten.
For the second year in a row the Spanish Women’s team rode to victory in the Women’s Cup of the FIM Trial des Nations. Although demoted to second place after the first lap, Laia Sanz – Repsol Montesa, Sandra Gomez – Gas Gas and Mireia Conde – Beta produced a brilliant recovery to overcome their long standing rivals Great Britain, who again came home as runners-up after a tense day of competition in the Italian mountains.
The 2012 FIM Trial des Nations will be hosted in Moutier, Switzerland.